By: Anggina Dewi )*
Ahead of the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Head Elections (Pilkada), the big challenge that the Indonesian people must face is the spread of hoaxes which can threaten stability and trust in the democratic process. In this digital era, information can easily be spread widely in seconds via social media. However, not all information circulating has reliable accuracy. Hoaxes can damage a candidate’s reputation, trigger social conflict, and obscure the truth. Therefore, the public needs to play an active role in fighting hoaxes to maintain the integrity of the 2024 regional elections.
The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) of Kudus Regency, Central Java, has invited the public not to just spread any content they receive via social media without ensuring its truth first. This step is part of efforts to suppress the spread of false information that can negatively influence public opinion. The chairman of Bawaslu Kudus, Moh Wahibul Minan, suggested that the public ask the relevant parties directly if they want to confirm the veracity of information, be it the General Election Commission (KPU) for the election stages, Bawaslu for supervision, or law enforcement officials.
The rapid development of information on social media means that people must be more alert to hoax news. It is hoped that participatory supervision outreach involving journalists can help the success of the 2024 regional elections by creating a conducive and safe atmosphere. Through friendly events like this, various parties can collaborate to ensure that the Pilkada stages run smoothly and transparently.
Bawaslu Kudus also supervises the updating of voter data, which is one of the crucial stages in the regional elections. Strict supervision of this process can reduce the potential for data manipulation and ensure that every eligible citizen can exercise their right to vote correctly.
Chairman of the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) Korda Muria Raya, Iwhan Miftakhudin, emphasized the importance of this synergy to jointly make the 2024 Pilkada a success. With correct and educational reporting, it is hoped that public participation in monitoring the implementation of the Pilkada can increase. On the other hand, the role of the media in monitoring regional elections cannot be ignored. Synergy between journalists and Bawaslu is very necessary to ensure accurate and objective reporting.
Southeast Sulawesi Bawaslu also held a consolidation with the media to strengthen supervision and reporting on the stages of the simultaneous regional elections. Southeast Sulawesi Bawaslu’s Prevention, Community Service and Public Relations Division Coordinator, Bahri Bahari, emphasized that the role of the media is very vital in providing correct and educative information to the public. Hoaxes are one of the biggest challenges in election reporting, and the media is expected to present accurate news and avoid sensational titles that do not match the content of the news.
Journalists must always adhere to the journalistic code of ethics and carry out their duties with high professionalism. They must be a source of information that the public can rely on, especially in situations that are vulnerable to the spread of hoaxes such as the period leading up to the regional elections. In this way, the mass media can be the first bulwark in fighting hoaxes and maintaining public trust in the democratic process.
Deputy Chairman of the Press Council, M Agung Dharmajaya, added that the key to success in holding Pilkada is the creation of a public space that is conducive, healthy and free from fake news and hoaxes. The press has an important role in educating the public through proportional reporting about elections and regional elections, so that the public can play a role and monitor every stage of the election process. Public interaction with news coverage by the press will help in measuring the level of success of the preparation and implementation of the Pilkada.
In facing the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections, the public needs to be more critical of the information they receive. Not only are they consumers of information, the public must also be active in verifying the truth of news before spreading it. This is not only an individual responsibility, but also a collective responsibility to maintain the integrity of the democratic process. Through collaboration between Bawaslu, the media and the community, it is hoped that the 2024 Pilkada can run smoothly and produce leaders who are truly elected based on the pure vote of the people.
The public must also understand that fighting hoaxes is part of their responsibility as good citizens. Hoaxes not only impact certain individuals or groups, but can also damage social order and democracy as a whole. Therefore, every citizen must take an active role in ensuring that the information they receive and disseminate is true. Being a positive agent of change by always checking the facts before sharing information is a small but significant step in maintaining political and social stability.
With a critical and responsible attitude in using social media, the public can help create a healthy and conducive election atmosphere. As social media users, we all have a role in ensuring that the information we share is correct and trustworthy. Only in this way, we can maintain the integrity of democracy and ensure that the 2024 regional elections are honest, fair and transparent.
)* The author is a private university student in Yogyakarta